Clock construction begins in Woodstock

A concrete pad marks the future site of a new town clock that will be completed around the beginning of December at the southwest corner of Main and Court streets in Woodstock

The Woodstock Rotary Club has donated $15,000 toward what President Timothy C. Carter said is simply the latest contribution to a town landmark. The club wanted to assist with town efforts to enhance the streetscape along the U.S. 11 corridor.

“As we were coming to a close in the last fiscal year … this project came up as an option,” he said. “We were looking at larger brick-and-mortar type projects within the town and this was one that came as a suggestion.”

Other projects the club has given toward in the past few years have included numerous student scholarships, automated external defibrillators for the Woodstock Police Department and the Coats for Kids program. Some efforts are yearly staples of the club, but others like the clock are decided upon periodically with club goals in mind.

Town Manager Reid Wodicka said the central location near the circuit court clerk’s office helps to memorialize the town’s cooperative work with the club.

“The clock is a way that we help to identify a sense of place in the downtown area,” he said. “It gives the Court Square area another sense of permanence.”

According to a town news release, the clock will be black with gold accents, stand more than 15 feet high on its base and bear a Rotary symbol, lending to the visibility and prominence Carter said the club was aiming for. Members created a mockup of the clock design and chose certain elements from The Verdin Company’s selection.

Wodicka said the classic style of the piece will contribute to the overall visual impression the town has in mind for Court Square.

“Of course in the way that we build our sense of place, we always look for quality of style and a traditional look,” he said “For instance, when the enhancement committee was looking at the design for the clock, they chose the one that they felt had the best character and the best look for the square.”

Construction is estimated to continue through the end of November and the clock will be unveiled during the Dec. 4 Light Up Woodstock event, provided cooperative weather and no complications.